Summer Memories with a Revisionist Twist

I really do love summer, really I do. By the time the end of the school year arrives, I just want to be with the kids and take a break from the crazy schedule we have all kept for 9 months. In other words, it's time to sleep in a little later and not hit the ground running every day the minute our eyes open. Since our kids aren't and never have been late sleepers, everyone is awake by atleast 8:00 which though only an hour is a much better hour than 7:00.

I love lazy mornings when at 10:00, a child who comes to snuggle with me still smells like sleep because said child is still clothed in jammies. I love seeing the kids play board games or computer games during those lazy mornings. The best vantage point is from the back with the clearest view of the bed heads. These are good mornings for book reading, net surfing and casual laundry doing.

On the other hand, I also love those summer mornings when it's actually time to do chores and we get up and get productive. Mornings when, at 10am, there is already visible progress in the cleanliness of our home. With the promise of an afternoon outing to the pool or the museum, the kids chip right in mostly without argument or pushy parental persuasion.

I love summer days when the kids spend most of their time outside whether in the backyard with its many distractions or in the front with their neighborhood friends. I love seeing them come in all sweaty and red faced. They may complain about the heat but after a drink and an Ice P*p they go right back out again.

This summer had plenty of both kinds of days. Toss in several trips to Oklahoma and Colorado to see family and you have the recipe for a good summer, right?

So why do I feel like this summer could have been so much better? I guess I never felt like I got a good grip on summer. In between trips I was busy and playing catch up on church stuff. When I finally got a handle on being home, managing housework and other responsibilies and taking the kids to do fun summer activities, it was time for another trip with its required prep time. Blech. I guess I am saying I have regrets.

But, guess what? These four little ones got to be carefree kids for almost three months. They got to go swimming a lot which, as every parent knows, is number one summer priority. They got to eat lots of popsicles and ice cream. They got to have a little bit later bedtime for crying out loud!

So, I don't think they have any regrets. And that is what counts.

Middle girl makes it official

This post is for all of those Grandparent/Uncle type people who, along with their respective families, would love to see a very happy and very beautiful 8 year old girl on her baptism day.

That Sunday in March started out great. Middle girl wore her new white dress to church and got soundly praised for how pretty she looked. We had spaghetti at our house with Tee's family. She got a new bracelet from Grammie and Papa (which she wore to church that day), a new quad from Grandma and Grandpa with a lime green scripture tote that was not there yet because it was on back order. After pictures and generally fussing with the special girl we made our way to the church to get ready and to get the refreshments ready.

I will only give one short paragraph describing the horrible scene at the church when we got there. The font had overflowed into the hallway and two classrooms. The quietest missionary I have ever heard gave Tee the directions and because of the aforementioned quietness, Tee misheard him. After a half hour's hard work with two wet vacs, we were back on track.

The rest of the evening went without a hitch with many many flood jokes thrown in for good measure. The girls sang a song during the actual baptism which was absolutely precious, but which we of course did not get on camera. I was playing the piano so I am not to blame for that oversight. Anyway, we gathered the girls back together to sing it again after. It's cute but not the spiritual preciousness I wish we had captured.



Middle girl is a very special child; she had prepared herself well for this day. It was a wonderful evening and one that I am sure she will remember. I actually think everyone should have a memorable marginally catastrophic event to help them remember their special day.

It's the new math.

Lately at the dinner table, we have been enjoying giving the girls math problems to figure out in their heads. Don't worry, they love it and always ask for more. Tonight, however, Tee decided that they needed to give him a math problem.

Oldest girl: What's infinity divided by...
Middle girl: Beyond!

Anyone?

Growing pains

So my little family is growing. I suppose that happens doesn't it? I haven't posted since September. A little longer than I even projected, but honestly, even now I am kicking myself for taking the time to write this.

Anyway, since September we have done quite a bit of growing. Oldest girl turned the so not okay age of 9. I mean, that is only one year away from double digits! Not. okay. Although I must say, she is getting more and more fun as she gets older. (Hey, you! All of you who have had teenage girls - stop chuckling!) It's true. She is funny, smart and a great conversationalist. The best part? She is a voracious reader, just like her Mama.

Middle girl is getting baptized in a few short weeks. She is so good, like deep down good that she makes us feel bad. Wait, that's not true, she makes us be better. She cornered the Bishop at a ward party and asked him when she was getting her baptism interview. Well, he decided that it was in his best interest to get that done in a hurry!

Littlest girl is not so little anymore. Remember when I didn't start her in Kindergarten in the fall even though she made the cutoff by ten days? Yeah, well, in about mid January she matured so much that, well, let's just say I wish that kids could start Kindergarten mid-year. She is beyond ready. I am pleased to report though that even with wisdom in her later years, she is still as sassy and spunky as ever.

And baby boy? Even though I still call him that he is all toddler boy now. He is almost 16 months. He still brightens up any room and makes perfect strangers stop and drool. Just yesterday, he started giving me these 1000-watt smiles every time I looked at him. I really think he knew what it did to my gushy heart and decided to capitalize on it. He got to go outside in the backyard this week for the first time. He was in little boy heaven.

Tee and I do our share of growing too, just not as fast and outwardly noticeable as the kids. We get a little wiser and a little stronger with time. Life gets in the way of US a lot, but we still find time to connect. We had our ten year anniversary this November. Ten years - a blink and a lifetime, both. He is my best friend and fan.

My family - I think I will keep them.

More cuteness

Hey Grammie! My mom finally got some smarts!

Not Favoritism

Early this morning, I got to spend some time rocking the boy. He was awake even earlier than usual and desperately needed, for everyone's sake, to go back to sleep. He was restless and kept sitting up, looking around and then nose diving back to my chest to snuggle for a few minutes. Even though I was sleepy and really wanted that extra 45 minutes sleep before my alarm went off, I buried my face in his hair and breathed deeply of his baby scent each time. I reminded myelf that very soon baby boy would no longer be a baby. That these quiet times were swiftly coming to a close.

Because of the all-to-soon ending of his babyness, I am choosing to talk about my son first. You know, youngest to oldest or something like that. Or maybe not even in that order. Could be that another moment in time will inspire me to write about my middle girl. I'm spontaneous and care-free like that. (stop laughing those of you who know better!)

This is one of my favorite pictures of baby boy. Look at those eyelashes! He is one of the happiest, cutest, most beloved babies you will ever know. Of course he can be grumpy, stubborn (from his dad of course) and now that he is crawling and pulling up, he loves getting his hands on anything in reach.

His sisters adore him, of course. He loves them too, mostly. From a distance, on his own terms, and when the planets are aligned. No, really, he does love them. When he and youngest girl are at the babysitters, the sight of his sister quiets his tears. His two older sisters love putting him in his backyard swing or taking him to their room to play house with him. So far, he doesn't protest being the baby in their game, but give him time.

I can't imagine life without our boy. I can hardly believe there was a time I considered not having a fourth baby. I had a hard time getting up the gumption to go through it all again. Which explains the 4 year difference between youngest girl and baby boy. Life was good; potty training was behind us, sleep was better than it had been for a long time and our home was free of baby clutter. I suppose I was just too selfish to give all that up. Not to mention that the idea of another c-section was very unpleasant.

But, through all that, I knew there was one more child for us. Four was our number. Girl or boy, we wanted to welcome that last spirit into our home. However, even though we were all, "Girl or boy, it doesn't matter," when the ultrasound tech turned her magic wand in just the right spot and 'baby' became 'baby boy' a whole new feeling came over me. A son. My son. Our son. I called him 'son' a lot at first. I felt humbled and awed looking in to his face and thinking, "This is my son."

At times like this morning I still feel the same way. I love you sweet baby boy.